Vinh Giang
Australian communication coach, former magician, and author of Before We Forget How to Connect
Vinh Giang (Australian communication coach, former magician, and author of Before We Forget How to Connect) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Public speaking, Small talk, Before We Forget How to Connect.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Public speaking
Giang argues that controlling how you look and sound is easier than controlling feelings and influences confidence.
“So as you start to control the way you look and the way you sound, inevitably, it impacts the way you feel”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:11:51
Giang says people often go blank because the question asked was too broad, and recommends seeking specificity before answering.
“recognize that, and instead of reaching for an answer straight away, reach for specificity”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:05:13
Giang explains people dislike their recorded voice because they normally hear it resonating through bone and muscle rather than air.
“when you hear yourself in your own head, you're hearing your voice vibrate through muscle tissue and bone tissue, which creates a more resonant, deeper, richer sound”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:32
Giang argues that being engaging requires playing one's voice and body well, using a Beethoven metaphor.
“You can have the greatest music written by Beethoven, but if you don't play it well, it won't be perceived that way”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 31:35
Giang argues communication habits are learned behaviors that can be unlearned and replaced, not permanent traits.
“the way you communicate is just a series of behaviors that you've learned from other people that you've been repeating for the last 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 years of your life”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 21:52
Small talk
Giang suggests leaving a conversation by reflecting on what was said, citing a time constraint, and asking one final question.
“Hey, I've got to go, but I want to ask you one more thing about your Labradoodle”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:29:37
Giang contends that adjusting your energy to match a group at first meeting is considerate rather than fake.
“That's not fake and phony. That's you adjusting yourself to be able to meet people where they are, which is to me an incredible sign of a great communicator”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 37:14
Giang argues people get trapped in small talk because they never learn to perceive the conversational threads others offer.
“I think the only reason why people get trapped in small talk is because they've never learned to hear, see, feel, and sense these threats”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 15:21
Before We Forget How to Connect
Giang says writing the book let him share painful stories he still cannot tell aloud, after overvaluing positivity in his public persona.
“allowed me to write some stories in it that still hurt, that I'm not really able to share verbally and out loud yet”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:33:11
Giang says he avoided top-ten lists in the book because generic advice produces generic results.
“But I worry about that because general advice leads to general results”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 41:59
Executive presence
Giang claims the people who get promoted most are the most visible ones who contribute clearly in meetings.
“Who are the people who get promoted the most at work? The people who are the most visible”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:24:37
Giang advises standing when it is your turn to speak in meetings, since a standing speaker who pauses is rarely interrupted.
“And when you're standing and you pause, no one interrupts you. Why? Because we all understand if that person's still standing, they're still talking”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 53:30
Active listening
Giang recommends asking three follow-up questions whenever you sense a peak emotion in someone.
“Once you sense it, three follow-up questions there that make sense. Just three”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 33:37
Giang says the last word, last letter game reveals that people usually plan their response instead of listening.
“We're already thinking about our response that we want to give. Whereas this game forces you, you can't think of what you want to say until I finish”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 26:02
Speaking up in meetings
Giang recommends opening contributions in meetings with a 'one thing' framing to stay concise and avoid rambling.
“hey, if there's one thing I wanted to share, if there's one thing I had to share, it would be this. And just share one thing”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:21:45
Conflict resolution in relationships
Giang advises partners in arguments to address the situation rather than attack the person, and to reflect back the other's emotion.
“Don't attack them. Talk to the situation that is currently happening in front of you. Speak to the situation”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:19:45
Body language
Giang argues a monotone voice stems from a monotone body and that facial expression controls vocal emotion.
“everyone's afraid of this monotone voice without realizing that a monotone voice comes from a monotone body”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 55:38
Grief
Giang recounts learning from his cousin with cancer that support sometimes means sharing fear rather than fixing things.
“I just want you to sit in the dark with me and just be scared with me. Whereas I tried to be brave all the time”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You (Oct 26, 2026) · Listen from 9:41
Appearances
Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to YouOn Purpose with Jay Shetty · Oct 26, 2026 · 1 h 38 min
Jay Shetty talks with communication coach Vinh Giang about listening, vocal and visual presence, confidence, and practical conversation techniques from his first book.
Often appears with
- Jay Shetty · 1 shared episode